My eyes snapped open. A hot glare presses into my skull, blinding me for a moment. The breeze scratches across my skin, sticky and sharp. I jerk upright—pain explodes—my back, legs, head. My hand trembles, fighting for control, and the ringing in my ears drowns out everything else.
"What's happening to... me? Who... am I?" I gagged.
A fluster of the same question sprays my skull. A taste that's foreign— is that... my tong? My stomach twists—nothing makes sense.
I force my weight onto my trembling legs. My eyes survey the area—green, green everywhere. Trees, mountains of them, and short grass that exposes my bare feet. I didn't notice my feet until now. Each toe is longer than the other, with sharp, thin nails. I drag my feet, each step digging into the grass, pressing into the dirt.
I progress, the throbbing pulse subsiding. How long... was I walking for? A breath escapes my chest to my lips—I'm tired. After a bit of walking, I find a small pond tucked between the roots, water crashing at the tips of my toes.
My reflection—ears long, pointed at their edges—and my eyes... they're red. The muscles in my hand twitch, the reflection following its movement toward my face. The flesh is... warm.
My skin absorbs the moon as it rises.
"This is... me?" I whisper.
The sky grows darker before I notice my fall—my back against the slope by the pond.
Sitting there, waiting for something—an answer. I lay back on the soft cushion of the grass, looking at the soon-to-be night sky. Everything sinks in. Any tension fades. Before I know it, my body falls asleep.
Whispers—What am I? In the back of my mind, but a black void is the only thing I'm confronted with. Then that glare—it's hot. I can feel the light on my face. I slowly force my eyes open, the weight of sleep still clinging to them.
I'm still on the slope by the pond, water thrashing back and forth. I push myself up, brushing dirt from my raw backside — tiny pebbles scraping against bare skin. A yawn escapes my lips, followed by a slow sigh.
"What now?" I mutter.
Not a single thought comes to mind.
But my body tells me otherwise.
I follow that same feeling from yesterday — just walking.
I press weight into the grass and keep moving in a direction that feels… right to me.
Down the pond, I walk alongside it.
I'm not sure why… but the water… feels.
I search for words.
An answer.
something.
But I don't have one.
Lost in the thought of it all, I didn't realize again how far I walked.
I look behind me and see the marks of my feet along the dirt, slowly filling with water.
I don't know where I started.
It doesn't matter.
They're just my footprints.
But this feeling… I can't quite explain it.
My stomach — it burns with something soft.
I can't tell if it's my heart or my stomach.
Maybe… both?
No.
Only my two feet and myself.
I haven't seen anything else — no people, nothing living but trees, grass, and the water.
"Are there more people… like me?" I mutter.
I remember the way I looked.
What… am I?
Why am I here?
A sharp pain releases inside my head.
I force my eyes shut, suck in air, and hold my breath for a moment before letting it slip from my lips.
The constant bumping that once felt conscious now slows.
That's not important right now.
It's… not.
I turned back in the direction I was walking.
Then, in the corner of my eye—
What is…?
A gray fog, constantly rising into the sky.
Faint.
I walk toward the fog.
For some reason, it… attracts me.
I can't help but move closer to it.
I break away from my straight path along the pond and drift northwest, deeper into the woods. Trees crowd every step I take, branches crossing above me.
Then I stopped.
A small gap opens between the trees, like they weren't meant to part — but did.
There's a fire.
Rocks form a circle around the flames, holding them in place. Wood feeds it, crackling softly.
And someone stands beside it, back facing me.
Long red hair cascades down a black cloak.
I can see their hips, curved under the fabric — not like mine.
Fragile. Smaller.
Easy to break?
They bend down, picking up a stick — except… the tip glimmers. A shiny rock? Metal?
Not a regular stick.
They stand again.
And on their head — something big. I don't know what it is.
Why are they wearing all of that?
Why does this person have things on them?
I look down at myself.
I have… nothing on.
I let the thought slip away and look back up.
But something feels wrong.
Something about this person… it stirs inside me.
Like my insides are talking.
A thump in my chest.
Then faster.
Faster.
I see a faint black hue around them — like the darkness behind my eyelids when I sleep.
My hands sweat, lifeless at my sides.
I can only see their back.
They don't know I'm here.
What do I do?
Should I…?
No. But what if they're dangerous?
I shake my head.
Sweat drips down my skin in small beads, running across me.
I take small, jittery steps — if I'm being honest.
My legs shake, like the muscles don't know how to control themselves.
Each breath becomes more desperate for air.
My eyes blur, fogging a little — it feels like I'm dreaming.
I keep walking, closing the distance.
She still tends to the fire, keeping it alive.
Heat brushes my skin.
The air stings my nose — bitter, burnt wood.
"Ha…"
She turns instantly.
Quick. Powerful.
Like her feet commanded the earth itself.
And then I see her.
Green eyes .
A warm, soft face reflecting the firelight.
Lips that stand out.
Ears… not like mine.
Like the moon's shape last night.
She looks perfect.
Complete.
What am… doing?
Nothing but silence.
I don't know what to say.
She stares at me — sharp, intense — like everything I could ever say would be both a lie and truth at once.
My skin prickles.
I feel her eyes scan me.
Then she looks down — at a certain part.
I follow her gaze.
She's looking at my—
"Hah."
A small chuckle.
Heat rushes up from my stomach to my face.
My thoughts scramble, break apart.
Instinct takes over — my hands fall there, covering myself.
My knees bend, my body curling back from her gaze.
Why am I covering it?
Is this… not normal?
I stand there, legs trembling.
She looks back up at me.
"So. I can tell you're not from around here, aren't ya?"
A smirk — but sharp, intense still.
"A… A—"
My mouth can't make a sentence.
My body folds in on itself, hands clutching tighter around the area.
"I… don't know," I whisper.
"Hmm…" she muttered, still staring at me.
Scanning me.
Her presence… her legs move like they own the ground itself. She walks toward me.
Wait.
She's walking toward me.
No.
Please.
Not closer.
Every muscle tightens.
The air feels heavy, like it wants to explode.
My face burns hotter and hotter.
"What is your name?" she says, right in front of me now.
She's short.
Shorter than I expected.
Her head only reaches below my shoulder… but that thing she's wearing makes her look taller.
Snap out of it.
Think.
What do I say?
What… is a name?
I dig inside myself for an answer.
Heat spreads through me.
My hands stay covering that part of me — I don't know why, but it feels right to hide it.
My mind breaks apart when she's this close.
Her breath touches me. Warm. Sweet.
Her eyes — up close — green.
Like grass if it could glow.
Her lips part.
She waits.
"M-My… my name… I-I… is…"
Words trip.
Thoughts fall apart.
"…Water," I say.
I don't know what a name is.
I just said the first thing that felt right.
The first thing that made me feel… okay.
I shut my eyes tight.
Press my lips together.
Waiting.
A shiver runs down my back.
The grass burns warm under my feet, like I've been standing here forever.
"Why are you acting so weird…?" she says, loud.
…Huh?
"Why are you wearing no clothes?"
…
"And you're an elf…"
What…?
I slowly open my eyes.
She's looking away now — arms crossed, face tight, eyes squeezed shut like she doesn't want to look but still feels something intense.
She looks… upset? Or something like it.
"You're bold, running around the woods naked… like some pervert… tch."
Her voice cracks in a way I can't explain — sharp, annoyed, almost… flustered?
I'm lost.
Every word spins around in my head.
Elf…?
Pervert…?
Clothes…?
She sighs, and something in her body loosens.
The air loosens too.
I shift my feet in the grass, still covering that place on my body because it feels right to.
She turns away and reaches into something — a bag?
Then she throws… fabric, I think — toward me.
It hits my feet, sliding between my toes.
Then she throws two hard things that shine.
They look like… foot shapes?
She turns back again, standing in the same spot with her arms crossed, eyes closed — but her face… it's warm.
Red?
"These are old clothes I found in a dungeon," she says.
"I never needed them… S-So… put them on!"
I rush to grab them, obeying without thinking.
She's…
She's really terrifying.
The kind of terrifying that makes your body move faster than your thoughts —
so your heart doesn't catch up to the fear before you do.
I scramble with the clothes, not knowing what to do at first.
I look at her, then at what she's wearing.
Oh.
I see now.
I put on the parts that look like they match my legs, chest, and feet.
Hm.
This is clothes.
It feels… good.
The pants make me feel safe.
The cloth rubs warm against my skin.
My feet — pressure, comfort — not touching the grass, but protected.
Something rushes through me.
"Th-…Thank you," I say quietly.
She opens her eyes, scans me, then shuts them again.
Her face is even redder now.
"It's not like I needed them," she mutters.
She sighs — a deep breath — and walks toward me again, slower this time.
Almost… welcoming.
Her arms stay crossed.
"So your name is Water," she says.
A pause.
"Tch… what a weird name."
"My name is Aveline… not like it matters."
"Av… Ave… line," I say, trying to copy that strange sound.
"Aveline," I say again, full this time.
What an interesting word.
Is that what she calls herself?
A word that tells you who you are…
Or is it identity?
I called myself Water because it felt safe.
I like the water…
Thoughts scramble. They bump into each other, spinning around, before one settles.
"My name… is… Warren," I say.
"Warren… interesting," she says, staring down for a moment before looking at me again.
"Why are you here all alone? Especially naked. If someone else found you—"
She stops, catching her words.
She lifts her hand, scratching her head.
Her teeth grit.
Her eyes shut tight.
She looks really mad. Or… frustrated?
I can see the wrinkles in her eyebrows.
Is she mad… at me?
"You're an idiot…" she says, letting out a long breath.
Then she opens her eyes again, staring right into mine.
I don't know what that word means.
But I know it wasn't nice.
My stomach twists.
My heart does too.
It… hurts.
"I'm sorry," I say, looking down like a weight presses on me.
"I don't know where I am."
I don't want to say too much.
I feel like she'll get mad again, or say another word I don't understand.
"Can you… please tell me… where am I?"
I keep staring at the ground.
My clothes — they're dark.
Black, like when everything goes quiet and there's no light.
I didn't notice until now.
I was just… terrified.
She sighs again.
Is she mad…?
"You're in Mirenfell Forest. Two hours away from Rose Gate."
She clicks her tongue.
"How can you be so damn clueless?"
She taps her foot on the grass — fast, sharp, but somehow soft too.
I look up.
"I've just… been traveling," I say, turning away from her sharp green eyes.
I lied.
"Hmm… well… if you want… I can take you there?"
Her voice softens — warm, almost gentle.
Am I overreacting?
My eyes go back to hers.
I don't know what face I'm making.
But—
People like me…
Or people in general…
I won't be alone anymore.
Will I?
This might be my only chance.
My heart races — excitement, fear, something crushing and thrilling all at once.
"Y… yes. I'll… come with you," I say.
A smile stretched on her face, but only for a second — it disappeared the moment she realized I saw it.
"Well… don't just stand there. Let's go!"
She grabbed her belongings and I followed without question.
Her staff in her hand, and her small bag just disappeared — black glints and then gone.
I've never seen anything like that before. It vanished.
But I didn't question it. It's the last thing I want to do with her.
We walked for what felt like hours.
There — a dirt line, a path meant for people to follow.
Less trees. Then less.
Then it opens—
My heart thumps. Faster and faster.
An open field, a path leading to a tall stone wall.
Behind it, buildings sharp at the top, almost not real.
And two pieces of wood closed together, reinforced with shiny metal, a rose carved in the center — lighter than the wood.
Near it, two people covered in shiny metal.
…Why?
"Don't say anything. Let me do all the talking," she says, serious.
I can't see her face, but from the way she talked earlier, I know what expression she's making.
"O-Ok," I say.
We walk through the field — grass only three inches tall, like this place was meant to be seen — and then we stop in front of the two metal people and the door.
"Halt!" one of them says, metal echoing in their voice.
The other steps toward me.
I'm nervous. Sweat drips from my arms, from my pits to my elbows.
It tickles. It's a soft comfort. A distraction.
"State your business!" the other says, staring at me.
My body freezes.
"I live here, and this is my companion," she says, firm.
"A damned elf? Your companion? Why bring this creature here?" the metal person says.
Their voice rises — harsh — and something inside me twists wrong.
I don't know the meaning, but I know it's not good.
My sweat gets worse. My hands shake.
I know I'm an elf — Aveline said I was — but I didn't question it then.
Now I wish I did.
Why am I like this?
I hate it.
"This elf is useful. Don't fear — I made this thing bound to me. To my will," she says strongly.
Bound…
Thing…
She talks like I'm water she can step in.
What is happening?
What am I?
"Hmmm. I see," the other says.
"Well, elf — your kind is welcome here. Know your place."
I freeze. Say nothing.
"Open the gate," they say.
The doors begin opening — the wood and metal pressing and creaking, the rose splitting into two.
The sound shakes inside my ears.